“UNIFIL” calls on the Lebanese authorities to guarantee the freedom of movement of its members

The spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Andrea Tenenti, called on the Lebanese authorities to guarantee the security and freedom of movement of the “UNIFIL” force, after a group of civilians was attacked by a convoy of this force.
The international force is exposed to organized pressure from Hezbollah supporters whenever they see it as “deviating from the mandate it has been given,” especially when it leaves the main roads or is filmed inside the villages.
“On the fourth of this month, a large group of civilians stopped a UNIFIL convoy in the village of Kawtharia Al-Siyad in southern Lebanon, as the convoy was returning to its base in the UNIFIL area of ​​operations,” he said. Tenante, noting that the civilians took the equipment and the patrol equipment.
Tenanti indicated that the Lebanese Armed Forces arrived in the area and took control of the situation, so that the UNIFIL convoy could leave the village, although the equipment was not returned to the peacekeepers.
Tenente noted that the United Nations Secretary-General and the Security Council have always strongly condemned these incidents, considering that the full freedom of movement of UNIFIL and the safety and security of its personnel is an integral part of the effective fulfillment of its tasks.
In his view, the Lebanese authorities should guarantee the safety and freedom of movement of UNIFIL and noted that UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces are investigating the circumstances of the incident.